Bede Academy
113%
Capacity
2,012
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Bede Academy
Bede Academy is a popular choice among Northumberland families, with 152 first-preference applications for 129 places in the 2025/26 secondary intake, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.6. The school made offers to all 129 first-preference applicants, meaning 23 families who put it first missed out. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though it is worth noting that the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated behaviour and attitudes as ‘Requires improvement’ — the only area not judged ‘Good’. The overall effectiveness remains Good, a rating it has held since its previous inspection in 2017. With 24% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively diverse intake compared with the national average.
Academically, Bede Academy’s Progress 8 score of -0.1 is classed as ‘Average’ and sits above the Northumberland local authority average of -0.22, placing it 6th out of 16 secondary schools in the area. At GCSE, 51.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, while the Attainment 8 score stands at 46.7. The EBacc average point score is 4.23, with 55.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.33, which is rated ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry is 29.05, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a B- grade. Nationally, Bede ranks in the 56th percentile for Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of schools.
The school is a large all-through Christian academy with a nursery and sixth form, and its facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There is a broad range of sports on offer, from rugby and hockey to martial arts, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and coding. SEND provision covers nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 2,012 pupils against a capacity of 1,780, the school is significantly over capacity, which may affect classroom space and corridor flow. Bede Academy will suit families who value a Christian ethos, a wide co-curricular offer, and a school that performs above the local average at GCSE, but who are comfortable with a large, oversubscribed setting and a sixth form where A-level progress is below average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | Sixth Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2SY |
| Headteacher | Andrew Thelwell |
| Local Authority | Northumberland |
| Number of Pupils | 2,012 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.0% |
| School Capacity | 2,012 / 1,780 (113% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.10)
1765th of 3,141
Nationally
56th of 142
In North East
6th of 16
In Northumberland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
34.0
'22/23
27.9
'23/24
29.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 93 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)60%
- Employment16%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed129
206
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
152 families put this school as their 1st choice (74% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.6%
- Mixed2.4%
- Asian1.6%
- White (other)1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bede Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Sixth Avenue, Blyth
Northumberland, NE24 2SY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
